The Eastwick Press Newspaper

Eastern Rensselaer County's Community Newspaper

Letters & Comments

Letter To The Editor – Preventing Substance Abuse

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To the Editor:

As Principal of the Junior/Senior High School in New Lebanon I am thrilled to know that there is a local community initiative aimed at preventing substance abuse in our township. I learned of the group after speaking with Matt Larabee at our annual soccer tournament this fall. Immediately, we sought to connect TRACS with our existing Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) coordinator, Lenny Brown. Additionally, I contacted Biffy Cahill in January with the goal of establishing a relationship between the school and TRACS.

The school’s ongoing efforts toward our common mission of preventing substance abuse include the posting of TRACS monthly meetings on Mr. Brown’s school e-board. I was pleased to learn that one of our students took the initiative to attend last month’s meeting as a result of this effort. New Lebanon Junior/Senior High School addresses the threats posed by substance abuse in many areas, which include:

• having our health classes target the dangers associated with substance use;

• participation in Red Ribbon week (alcohol, tobacco and other drug prevention awareness);

• participating in Prescription Drug Abuse Awareness week;

• providing character education programming that supports leading a healthy life;

• re-establishing and maintaining an active SADD program (going on 3 years);

• seven years of inviting the Columbia County Sheriff’s K-9 unit into our building (multiple times per year), and

• utilizing the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office for presentations, including drug identification for faculty and staff.

I am proud of our young adults and believe in their ability to make sound choices. We will continue our programming initiatives and will work in partnership with the New Lebanon community to address any issues should they arise.

Matthew R. Klafehn, NLCS Principal

Letter To The Editor – Donating Heirlooms

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To The Editor:

I just realized that it’s been twenty years since I first began donating family heirlooms and historical items to the Taconic Valley Historical Society. Since the old vacant garage on Main Street in Berlin was burned to the ground by arsonists, how safe is the old, vacant “cracker box” building where some of my donations are stored. Also, someone entered one of the homes where my donations are and walked out with one of the books I wrote for children, which was illustrated by Randi Bentley. 1 had to purchase another one to replace it.

I thought when I donated items to the Taconic Valley Historical Society: family heirlooms, two theatrical posters of my grandparents (cost $500 to restore), an original leather bound book by Emma Willard, books written by my great grandparents, and cannot be replaced, that these items would be appreciated and kept safe. At the time, a resident of Berlin advised me to donate to the Rensselaer County Historical Society instead, because everything was farmed out in individual homes and some things were reported stolen. Never once did I imagine that it would take twenty years to generate interest enough to provide a building for the society where my family treasures would be safe, and then – wait how long – for these items to be moved inside that building.

I planned to attend a lecture on March 11 in Waterford covering the Irish Revolutionaries. One of these groups was the Clan-na-Gael, of which my paternal great-grandfather was President and is written about in a book I donated to the Taconic Valley Historical Society called My Twenty-five Years In the Secret Service by Henri LeCaron.

It was because these treasures meant so much to me, and because I was proud of my family history, that I donated them to an organization I believed would provide safe keeping for the years to come; a place where my future generations could come to learn about their ancestors’ lives, careers and fame. My parents were life-long residents of Berlin, and I was born in a Berlin landmark. I’ve spent my life trying to restore and preserve – from my apartment buildings, homes (including Moseley’s), to heirlooms and genealogy.

I am hurt that the people of Berlin have this “day come – day go” attitude. I’d hoped to receive an announcement of an opening of the new building where I’d see my Victorian quilt and my family books, etc., displayed. I’ve had two strokes and have health problems and am afraid I’ll never see my cherished donations in a permanent, safe place, visible to all. I almost cry when I think about the lack of concern. I am filled with regret and disappointment. Can you tell me anything to restore my hope?

Sincerely,

Beverly Plank Lettko

Main Street, Mechanicville

Letter To The Editor: Problems With The Rail Trail

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Dear Editor,

Congratulations on an excellent, thorough and balanced depiction of the Corkscrew trail developments.  Some of us in Petersburgh have been following these with interest, since there had been a parallel flurry of low key meetings last year called by our Petersburgh town supervisor and spurred also by Jim Bonesteel of the RPA.  As a dissenting member of that committee, I was nonetheless privy to local reactions and research that might be relevant to the grand (or some would say, grandiose) plan to run the trail from Chatham to Bennington.

In a nutshell, from my perspective, it ain’t going to happen.   First, our supervisor, who initially wisely attempted to enlist some local landowners in the possible path of the trail before making the plan generally known to the public, was, as far as I know, unable to enlist one single landowner to offer his/her land for trail use.  In a happenstance neighborly chat with two such landowners with critical land in the trail’s path, a member of our committee was told that they were unalterably opposed to the trail’s using their land.

Second, unlike our Stephentown friends, there is virtually no local interest or support from the critical mass or people who ostensibly would use, run, and police the trail — hikers and bikers.  Of the committee that was formed, only three people could be characterized as active outdoorspeople, and all three were opposed to the trail.  It is precisely this kind of grass roots structure that is absolutely crucial to any forward movement on a trail proposal.

Third, the cost.  A recent dinner with Barbara and Bob Murdock, who were involved in the initial stages of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, gave me indigestion … the initial engineering cost  was $200,000 according to Bob, and the actual construction cost c. 11 million dollars, or roughly 1 million per mile.   With the county’s complete inability to manage event the most basic road infrastructure such as Route 22 south of Petersburgh, where do the Corkscrew people think they are going to get this kind of money?

Due to the devastation of Irene, any rail trail that comes anywhere near the Little Hoosick will need additional mitigation that in itself will put it out of reach of any proposal.

The concern for Stephentown folks should be that, should you bind with Petersburgh in a joint grant proposal, we would be so needful (since we would be going from scratch) that we would drain an inordinate amount of funding that would take away from your own funding.

Fourth, after doing some research, knowing the history and culture of Petersburgh, and seeing the impossibility of implementing it here without significant motorized use and noise (legally or illegally), the project will only cause a major uproar in the town similar to the one that occurred when they tried to install a motocross track here a few years ago.

Our situation is nearly directly opposite from Stephentown’s:

•  In Stephentown, the motorized use is already there and will remain.  There might be more of an upside to expanding it as a multiple use facility.  Petersburgh, on the other hand, enjoys relative peace and quiet along the route.  The trail will open it up to noise and misuse that didn’t exist.

• In Stephentown, there is already a force in place to maintain the trail, with the snowmobile club, with heavy equipment and a ready cadre of people ready to help, involving relatively little extra effort required to make this into a hike bike use as well.  But even with this body of dedicated snowmobilers, I noticed on their web site’s Facebook page a continual thread of the problem of ATV and other non-authorized motorized use.  If these responsible people, who have a larger community of support which is already well organized, can not stop this motorized use, what makes you think that Petersburgh, with virtually no infrastructure, no policing capability, and a culture of unlawful motorized use all over the area  will be able to restrict this in any way?  No property owner in his (her) right mind would agree to opening their land to such potential abuse. Just look at what has happened to the Taconic Trail south of Petersburgh around Berlin Mountain.  Totally ruined by ATV use and no discernible policing.

•  The acoustic sound problem is a significant difference.   Anyone who is living along the Rt. 22 corridor in Petersburgh/Berlin knows that motorized noise has an echo/amplification effect, unlike the relatively flatter area around Stephentown.

Any promises by an official that, once built, trail abuse can be prevented and policed just do not ring true if one examines the culture and the budgets of this area. That is why it is so important for us to very closely examine the long term implications of this trail and its potential to severely impact the peace and quiet of our rural valley, and the resultant abuse and lowering of property values along the route.  Any statements to the contrary by officials promoting the project should be viewed skeptically.

Barton McLean

Petersburgh

Letter To The Editor

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To the Editor,

Though there are a number of specific issues fueling the current debate among the good people of the Town of Petersburgh, there seems to be one general problem underlying the entire situation. People are looking to the town government as a conduit through which to get their program of choice funded. The problem is government – whether federal, state, or local – is merely a sponge. Having no money of its own, it simply soaks up money from taxpayers, wrings itself out through spending, then soaks up more money from taxpayers. Furthermore, it usually overspends (often on programs it has no business funding in the first place), then raises taxes to cover its overspending while continuing to overspend.

Certainly a town government ought to levy and collect taxes to finance the needs that affect the entire town population (town offices, emergency vehicles, road maintenance, etc.), but it has no business financing community programs that are only used by a small percentage of the town citizenry (community centers, youth programs, etc.). Those programs should be financed through willing donations rather than compulsory taxes. The people who organize and use those programs can finance them through personal contributions, fundraisers, etc. – all of which the town people would be more able to contribute to if their tax burdens were eased. This alone would end the majority of fighting over government funds.

Then, once a town government is only financing what it ought to be financing, it needs to stop overspending.  In light of the fact that all financial systems – whether personal, corporate, or government – operate on income and expenses, consider the following scenario. A small business owner decides to build an addition on his building for more office space and a company cafeteria, then cuts the wages of his employees to pay for it. Is that acceptable? Most would say no. Well, that is what the government does when it overspends. It decides to increase funds to a certain program, then “cuts the wages” of its citizens to pay for it by raising their taxes. The truth of the matter is, at least the small business owner has the right to do it since it is his money.

The government has no right at all to do it since that money belongs to the hardworking taxpayers who earned it. Honestly, it would be wise for the small business owner to wait until he makes enough profit, but it is imperative that the government wait until new sources of revenue move into town. Until that happens we must simply do what most Americans are tragically no longer accustomed to doing – go without. Just a thought!

Sincerely,

Scott A. DeGiorgio

Texas Hold’Em Is Back At The Armory

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Shuffle up and deal at the Texas Hold’Em Tournament at the Armory in Hoosick Falls on Friday, March 7.

Doors open at 6 pm, play starts at 6:30. The buy-in is $35 with an option for a $10 add on, plus a $5 high hand pot. Newcomers and experienced players are welcome. The Armory is at 80 Church Street in Hoosick Falls.

Plan to be at the Texas Hold ‘Em Tournament at The Armory in Hoosick Falls on the first Friday of every month.

Call 518-686-9050, email contacthayc3@gmail.com or visit the HAYC3 website at www.hayc3.org for more information.

Letter To The Editor – About The Transfer Station

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To the Editor:

I am again compelled to respond to last week’s letter to the Editor entitled, “Transfer Station Agreement Unfair.” The Town of Petersburgh has always worked to make general improvements and reduce finances in cooperation with its citizens. Apparently this way of handling things is not the case of some, who have decided to take a confrontational approach in addressing Town matters.

I myself have been working on this matter diligently for the last several months, as have our new Town Board members prior to their even assuming office.  The Town of Petersburgh has always had a good relationship with our neighboring Town of Berlin, and it is unfortunate that these aggressive opinions may risk destroying this avenue. Again, not to be repetitive, but the Town is aware of and working to rectify this situation; at the January Regular Town Board Meeting, I made it publicly known that the Board is working on the situation. Elaboration was not provided, not because the Town is trying to “hide the facts,” but rather to ensure continued cooperation and friendly discussions with the Town of Berlin in regard to the Transfer Station agreement.

In the meantime, this office is spending a lot of unnecessary time answering accusations instead of spending time where it is really needed. Prior to my knowing this particular letter appeared, I went to the Transfer Station to deliver recyclables and was hostilely confronted by the attendants, all due to Mr. Berry’s statements that appeared in the letter. This unprofessional and undiplomatic method of addressing Town operations has been extremely counterproductive.

I am available at any time to listen to and discuss any concern that citizens may have. It is my belief that our Board would extend the same courtesy. Since I took office I have attempted to form many committees for Town-related business in order to encourage involvement from the public. Hardly any positive interest has been shown despite the Town’s repeated attempts to involve the community. Now that these negative interpretations of the Town’s intentions have been displayed, it only helps to create further problems instead of solutions.

Siegfried Krahforst

Petersburgh Town Supervisor

Letter To The Editor – About The Transfer Station

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To the Editor:

This is a reply to Tom Berry’s Letter to the Editor entitled “Petersburgh/Berlin Transfer Station Agreement Unfair.”

If a tree falls in the forest does it make a sound?  If a person doesn’t attend the public budget workshops meetings in the Town of Petersburgh does that mean they can accuse the Town Board of not being accountable?  That is what Tom Berry did!  He didn’t attend the budget workshop hearings last year. It’s possible he didn’t attend any in past years either.  Therefore he did not hear the Supervisor and former Town Board openly discussing the costs to the town for the Transfer Station.  Many of us did hear. Since Mr. Berry was not present he felt it necessary to form the opinion that the Town officials are not informing the citizens.

Over the past few weeks one question comes to mind. Is aggressively accusing your Town government by Mr. Berry and others a helpful way to move in the right direction?  To use Mr. Berry’s words, is that a “healthy well-functioning democracy?” I suppose that is for the public to decide. I do see a silver lining. Mr. Berry’s questionable statements may get more residents to take an interest in the Town government and attend Board meetings. It would certainly be beneficial for more Petersburgh people to get involved in the Town.  It would be even better if folks attended Board meetings throughout the entire year.  If you don’t wish to attend, we would like to hear from you in other ways (emails, letters, phone calls).  We welcome your concerns and questions. We need to know what all of you are thinking, not just a handful of people.  Please speak up!  We are your town government.  We represent ALL of you!

I do agree with some of the points Mr. Berry brought up in regard to Petersburgh’s cost to use Berlin’s transfer station.  However, things cannot happen overnight.  The cost for Petersburgh to use the Berlin Transfer station has been close to or the same for the past 15 years.  Recently, the Town Supervisor and the Board as well as other Town officials have begun working toward a solution that is best for our town.  That doesn’t mean we are leaving the Berlin Transfer station out of the picture.  Also, it doesn’t imply we shouldn’t try to reduce costs when possible.  However, let’s not jump to something we’ll be sorry for later.  Let us carefully weigh all our options.  The Supervisor and the Town Board will continue to speak to vendors and other towns in our area to see what refuse programs they have and how successful they are.  We will keep trying to convince Berlin to come to the negotiation table as well.  You can help too. Please come to the Board meeting with, or send in, your ideas for garbage and refuse collection.

With that in mind, Mr. Berry is correct to say the payment to Berlin is substantially more than the revenue in.  However, he is wrong to label it as a “deficit.” In reality this is an expense for a service.   Other municipalities consider the cost of garbage collection a service for their residents. I believe that past Petersburgh Supervisors as well as past Town Boards considered this expense a necessity in order to provide a service to the Petersburgh residents.  Going forward, Supervisor Krahforst, along with the new board, is taking a different approach on many issues including the Transfer Station.  When we feel it’s necessary, we will rethink what has been done in the past.

We know full well the struggle Petersburgh faces with this year’s bleak economic condition.  If we are dealing with uproar and bullying how can the Town officials focus on what needs to be done in an efficient and sensible way?

Yes, the previous Board had to raise taxes.  No one was happy about that.  Budgets in most Town departments were cut to the point of bare bones.  The brand new Town Board has just begun.  I can say sincerely the new Town Board will do its best to make improvements across the board, even in spite of the minimal resources we have. I am confident we will work hard and make decisions that are best for the Town.  One step at a time.  It will get better.  Together we can make good things happen for Petersburgh.

Denise Jacon Church

Petersburgh Town Council Member

Letter To The Editor – Petersburgh/Berlin Transfer Station Agreement Unfair

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To the Editor:

The current Transfer Station contract between Petersburgh and Berlin is not fair to Petersburgh.  In addition to paying 50% of the total operational expenses, the current contract also includes a $12,000 annual transfer station access fee to Petersburgh. I believe Petersburgh has been paying this fee for over 20 years. $240,000 should be enough for the infrastructure.

The following facts show why this is unfair to Petersburgh.  According to the 2010 US Census Bureau, Berlin has 1,880 citizens, 1,100 housing units, 789 occupied households and Petersburgh has 1,525 citizens and 661 family households.  According to County Waste, 324 Petersburgh households have curbside pickup; whereas, Berlin has only 78.

The combined Berlin/Petersburgh household total utilizing the transfer station is 1,048. (1,450 total households minus 402 total curbside pickups).  The 661 Petersburgh households minus the 324 curbside pickups equal 337.  The 337 divided by 1,048 equates to 32.1% of Petersburgh’s citizens using the Berlin transfer station.  Petersburgh only issued 151transfer station permits in 2013 so the 337 number is probably very high. In 2013, Petersburgh paid Berlin $60,925.21 in total fees and only collected $21,791.29 in revenue, leaving a deficit of $39,133.92 for the taxpayers of Petersburgh to unfairly subsidize the Town of Berlin.

THE TOWN OFFICIALS OF PETERSBURGH KNOW THIS!  Have they notified the citizens of Petersburgh of this inequality?  Bet not!  Don’t sit on your couch and accept this!  Join me at the next Town Board Meeting on February 24 and express your dissatisfaction of this unfair agreement.  If the shoe was on the other foot, do you think Berlin would accept this?

If the Town of Berlin will not enter into a fair agreement, there are many options available.  Attend the Town Board meeting to learn/discuss the available options.  The Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) states, “The people’s right to know is basic to our society.”  It is the responsibility of the Town Board to inform its citizens of all issues the Town is facing as well as its financials.  It’s time for the Town of Petersburgh to shine a light on the functions of our Town and its spending.  Healthy, well-functioning democracies fully embrace transparency.  Let your voice be heard on February 24 at, 7 pm.

Thomas Berry

Canfield Road, Petersburgh

Letter To The Editor – The Petersburgh Supervisor Responds

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Dear Editor,

I feel compelled, as the Town Supervisor, to respond to the letter entitled, “Genuine Intentions” that appeared in the Eastwick Press last week. The comment that I most strongly resent is the statement that the taxes will again be raised in 2015. This false prediction was assumed without any facts, opinions or information from the Town being taken into consideration. As the Financial Officer for the Town of Petersburgh, it is my intention to have a zero tax increase this year.

Additionally, in regard to the Youth Program finances mentioned in the article “PVMCC Starts Raising Funds For Youth,” the amounts quoted were incorrect as well. The total amount cut from the budget equals $4,665, not $6,000; also the amount allotted for 2014 is $3,000 not $1,600. This total amount includes $1,500 for salaries, and $1,500 for all contractual expenses. As for the State and County monies received, these figures are reimbursements, not additional funding for the budget. This fact was explained previously to Mrs. Bowman-Kluck, yet was still incorrectly accounted for within this particular article. Again, these statements were made incorrectly without making any sort of attempt to verify correct information with the Town.

I regretfully agree that this was a substantial amount cut, and would like to see the former budget amount from 2013 reinstated next year if possible. The current financial situation of the Town has forced many budgetary cuts in various important areas; although the Youth Program is an important asset in our Town, the fact is that our Town is struggling to function in light of so many drastic budgetary reductions. The functionality of all Town departments are at risk due to forced operation on minimal finances, and I hope that the taxpayers will take the entire situation into consideration and realize that these cuts were a very difficult decision to make.

Siegfried Krahforst, Supervisor

Town of Petersburgh

Editor’s note: Bowman-Kluck has since revised her figures and her revised article on the PVMCC fundraising will appear next week.

Letter To The Editor – Genuine Intentions

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Dear Editor,

It has recently come to my attention that a handful of people have inquired about the efforts of my husband Gene and myself in regards to the town of Petersburgh. Let me assure the people that our intentions are genuine and aimed at advocating for the residents and taxpayers of the Town. Those folks that already know us realize this provocation has always been a part of who we are, whether at work or volunteering at the library and the school or coaching sports or assuming leadership roles within our church.

Last Spring, Gene was considering the possibility of running for the Highway Superintendent position. We began attending Town Board meetings in an effort to educate ourselves on how the Town operated. Generally, the meetings were sparsely attended; a select few were involved with decision making, and information was not forthcoming. Asking questions, learning the governing laws and researching the current processes by which the Town operated was a natural focus. We also spoke directly with many of the Town’s officials and sought out and encouraged feedback from the residents of Petersburgh.

Although faced with personal attacks and resistance from some Town officials, Gene and I continue to be committed to advocating for the residents and taxpayers of Petersburgh. Our efforts are not personal or directed towards any one individual. This year our taxes were increased by nearly 7% (originally figured at 13%), and it is likely that next year will be a substantial increase as well. Many of the Town’s valuable programs, such as the Youth and Senior Programs, received vast cuts, constraining their efforts to run effectively. It makes sense for our community to work collaboratively to explore ways in which the Town can be run more efficiently and current spending can be minimized, thus reducing the need for more significant cuts next year.

I feel confident that the current Petersburgh Town Board will do what is right for the residents and taxpayers of Petersburgh while maintaining an open and informative process without bias or the involvement of personal agendas. This can be achieved by a diverse group of community members attending meetings, becoming informed and offering to assist the Town with committees or appointed positions. We can all make a positive and cost savings difference that will affect our Town for years to come!

Sherry Bowman-Kluck

Johnny Cake Hill Road, Petersburgh